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Wilkie prepares for leader meetings

New independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he's bringing along a 'long list' with him to meetings with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

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But Mr Wilkie, the new member for the Tasmanian seat of Denison, denies they're demands, but rather his "priorities" as negotiations continue in Canberra on Monday.

The former intelligence whistleblower is one of several independents in town to begin a fresh round of talks with the major parties.

He will meet Mr Abbott first on Monday afternoon, ahead of talks with Ms Gillard.

The list, divided up into three sections, first "local", then "national" and "office", has already been forwarded to their respective offices.

"It's a long list because it's been a long time since southern Tasmania, and Denison in particular, had a fair go from Canberra," Mr Wilkie writes in the letter.

Locally, Mr Wilkie would like to see the Royal Hobart Hospital replaced, the Tasmanian rollout of the national broadband network completed on time and a federal rejection of the Gunns pulp mill.

Mr Wilkie has already put his desire for a poker machine crackdown on the record.

But in the list, he points to climate change as another key national issue.

"Urgent action on climate change, including a price on carbon," reads the list.

He would also like to talk about federal whistleblower legislation, see mental health given funding priority, education funding reform sped up as well as increases to welfare.

A conscious vote on gay marriage and a national disability insurance scheme are also on the wishlist.

On a final note, Mr Wilkie said he'd also like enough staff and office space to deal with "the workload of an independent member of parliament".


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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